St. Johns County receives funds to help with food, shelter

St. Johns County has been awarded Federal Funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

St. Johns County has been chosen to receive $20,980 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area.

The selection was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and consisting of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities, USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and the United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. The board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A local board, composed of county, city, human service agencies and United Way officials and volunteers, will determine how the funds awarded to St. Johns County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be non-profit, 2) have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply by 4 p.m., Monday.

St. Johns County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with American Red Cross, Betty Griffin House, Catholic Charities Bureau, St. Francis House, St. Gerard House, and The Salvation Army participating in 2002.

Deadline to apply is Monday, March 10, 2003. Applications and further information on the program may be obtained by contacting Ann Breidenstein, United Way of St. Johns County, 117 Bridge Street, (904) 829-9721, or Capt. Tim Roberts, Salvation Army at (904) 824-6880.